Labour parliamentary candidate for North West Leicestershire, Amanda Hack, claims no progress has been made on the Ivanhoe Line rail route.

She has has responded to the Government's latest transport announcement which said Leicestershire's transport system would benefit from £400million worth of funding.

Cllr Hack says she would make the re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line her priority 'from day one' if elected at the next General Election.

Work was to have started on the line this year with passenger trains running by 2026.

The line is now due to end at Coalville rather than going on to Leicester.

Instead, it is planned to run through Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Burton, then to Derby.

She said: "Last October, the Government unveiled its 'new' Local Transport Fund with a flurry of ministerial announcements and press releases.

"We were told that nearly £10 billion had been allocated to transport schemes in the Midlands, with specific mention of re-opening the Ivanhoe Line.

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"Labour welcomed this decision, while raising concerns that there was no clear commitment to restoring the passenger rail link between Coalville and Leicester.

"Five months on, the hard truth is that no progress has been made on delivering a single mile of railway track anywhere in North West Leicestershire."

She also criticised the road network in the district.

Cllr Hack added: "Things are no better elsewhere on the transport front - progress on the A511 Ashby-Coalville upgrade, which was first announced in 2019, remains stalled.

"Last month, we learned that construction will not start until 2025 at the earliest.

"On Monday, the prime minister made the same announcement all over again.

North West Leicestershire Labour candidate Amanda Hack. Photo: Supplied

"Admittedly, he added a few details about local decision-making. Yet, there is no real cash on the table, just a vague suggestion that funding for Leicestershire might appear in 2025, subject to a series of unknown conditions.

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"The cash earmarked for Leicestershire is quoted at just £238 million – a fraction of the figure announced in October.

"After 14 years of Conservative failure, nationally and locally, Leicestershire's finances are in crisis.

"If I am elected as the new MP for North West Leicestershire, the Ivanhoe line will be at the top of my in-tray from day one.

"I will work with all parties to get the line reopened and restore the passenger link between Leicester and Coalville - this goes beyond politics."

 North West Leicestershire District Council Labour Leader, and Measham councillor, Sean Sheahan, added: "This latest announcement about the creation of a Local Transport Fund has muddied the waters on the Government's previous commitment to the Ivanhoe Line.

"It's important that political leaders in Leicestershire rally round the Ivanhoe Line, and I fully support Amanda Hack in her stance."